Bulldogs bow out against Cardinals in volleyball regional

ST. IGNACE — Rudyard reached the regional final for a second straight year, but ended its tournament trail in the same location.

Onaway spilled the Bulldogs 3-0 by scores of 25-21, 25-19, 25-8 in a Class D regional volleyball final Thursday night at St. Ignace.

The Bulldogs finished 29-14-5 overall, and matched the school’s longest tournament run since U.P. teams starting playing in the state-wide playoff format.

“This team really showed a lot of improvement,” Rudyard coach Ellen Perry said. “They came a long way. We scrimmaged Onaway in the preseason and last night their coach said we looked like a different team since then.

“We were happy to win another district,” Perry said. “We would have liked to take one more step this year but it wasn’t meant to be. Congratulations to Onaway.”

Kaya Coffey hit nine kills and had one block while also serving 9-for-9. Savannah Dugan had five kills and three aces while Kylie Ewald had four kills and 12 digs. Marissa Harrison was 9-for-9 on serves, and had a team-best 17 digs and three kills. Ashlee Bonnee had 12 assists and 11 digs, while Dominique Tremblay had 10 digs.

The Bulldogs will lose four seniors to graduation, including Coffey, Tremblay, Ewald and Bonnee.

Onaway advances to a Class D quarterfinal against Forest Park Tuesday in Petoskey.